Football previews, 2014: Cherry Hill West

LAST SEASON: 5-5, tied for third in West Jersey Football League Constitution Division, qualified for the playoffs in South Jersey Group 4 for the first time in program history.

Conference and sectional classification: West Jersey Football League Constitution Division and South Jersey Group 4.

Head coach: Brian Wright, third season, 9-11 career record.

A look back at 2013: The progress continued at Cherry Hill West, which was 4-6 in Wright’s first season. The Lions benefited from a fast start, winning four of their first five games. It opened with consecutive wins over Paul VI (30-24) and Cumberland (33-6). It lost to powerhouse Timber Creek (52-28) then responded with back-to-back wins over Seneca (21-14) and Woodrow Wilson (34-33). Playing against the better part of its schedule, Cherry Hill West lost four straight to Moorestown (41-13), Bishop Eustace (24-18), Camden Catholic (22-6) and then Timber Creek again in the playoffs, 39-13. It finished the season with a dominating 30-6 win over rival Cherry Hill East.

Offense: Cherry Hill West will again seek the balance it had last season when it rushed for 1,849 yards and passed for 1,406. On paper, the Lions should be effective on the ground and through the air. They return their leading rusher from last season, 5-foot-10, 185-pound Tyrone Williams. Williams (watch his video below), a three-year starter, rushed for 690 yards and five touchdowns last season. Cherry Hill West also returns three-year starter Joey Argentina, who completed 59 of 126 passes for 614 yards, at quarterback. He threw five touchdowns and was intercepted five times. The top returning lineman for the Lions is 210-pound Shawn St. John and senior wide receiver Chris Pascall has a scholarship offer from Stony Brook. Pascall, who also plays in the secondary, caught 24 passes for 274 yards and five scores in 2013.

Defense: The Cherry Hill West defense allowed 261 points last season, but always seemed to get a stop in a big spot. Timber Creek is off the schedule, but is replaced by Shawnee. Also new to the schedule in WJFL-newcomer Hammonton. The Lions will be challenged by versatile opponents. The strength of the defense should be the defensive line with veterans Jared Pope (6-5, 255), Don Graves and Ryan Wimmer returning. Pascall and sophomore Quinton Jenkins are the top players in the secondary.

Etc: The two best records Cherry Hill West has had since 2003 was 5-5 last season and in 2004. Cherry Hill West will host a “White Out Night” when it hosts Triton in the season-opener.